Okay, What About a THREE-Second Rule? No?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Believe us, it gives us no pleasure to debunk this one. We cannot count the number of times when we've dropped a particularly delectable morsel of food, scooped it up, triumphantly declared “Five Second Rule!”, and popped it into our mouth.  The Five Second Rule, of course, is the well known scientific law that states food on the ground can't be contaminated in less than five seconds, and is therefore perfectly safe to eat.

And then came Jillian Clarke, biologist and semi professional spoilsport. Through a series of experiments at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign,  Ms. Clarke demonstrated that even dry foods can be contaminated in 5 seconds or less, a depressing finding that won her the 2004 Ig Nobel prize.  In 2006, further research confirmed that food does indeed get contaminated in less than 5 seconds, and foods with higher levels of microbiota (tiny living organisms) such as meat, cheese and vegetables will contaminate at a faster rate than dry foods. 

By the way, the Ig Nobel Prizes, originally awarded by the Journal of Irreproducible Results, acknowledge and award 10 real achievements in science, medicine, technology and 7 other fields that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”. Recent awards have been presented (really!) for:

• refining methods for whale snot collection by remote control helicopters
• research confirming that that microbes do in fact cling to bearded scientists, and
• the discovery that some asthma symptoms can be treated with a roller-coaster ride.

By special guest science contributor Julia Prokopick

Revitalizing Indigenous Languages III: Hawai'i

Learning Traditional Plant Names: Language Class: Traditional Sailing Instructor

Greg Smith is a Consilium consultant who has worked on various language revitalization projects around the world. This is the third in a series of articles on international approaches to bringing indigenous language back into day-to-day life.

Of the total population of 1.2 million people, the largest group (22.1 per cent) consists of Hawaiians or part-Hawaiians. In the last century, the Kingdom of Hawaii was internationally recognized as an independent country with its own stamps, money, press, schools, courts and monarchy. In 1893 the monarchy was overthrown by U.S. marines and in 1898 the islands were annexed by the United States, becoming a state in 1959.

Hawaiian is a Polynesian language closely related to that of other Pacific islands, such as New Zealand (Maori), Tahiti, and Easter Island. Although there are some dialectical differences between the eight islands, there is one single Hawaiian language. For nearly a century the Kingdom of Hawaii conducted its affairs in the Hawaiian language – including courts, schools and the legislature. Many books, newspapers, textbooks and other documents were published in Hawaiian, and 90 per cent of Hawaiians were literate at the end of the 19th century.

Following annexation by the United States, English became the official language of government and business, and the Hawaiian language was banned in schools.

Revitalizing Indigenous Languages II: The Maori Experience

Greg Smith is a Consilium consultant who has worked on various language revitalization projects around the world. This is the second in a series of articles on international approaches to bringing indigenous language back into day-to-day life. 

New Zealand has a total population of around 4 million. Of these about 14 per cent, or just over half a million people, are Maori.

Until the 1930’s most Maori lived in rural areas, and the Maori language was widely used in all aspects of Maori life, including homes and communities. However schooling of Maori children was almost entirely in English - sound familiar? - and Maori children were often punished for speaking their language.

By the 1970’s Maori was a marginal language used only in a few homes and for religious activities. There was concern that the language would die out completely within a few years.

That hasn't happened.

Opportunities in Energy

More and more industries are realizing that Aboriginal people - especially young people - represent a valuable and growing labour pool. The Métis Nation of Ontario recently completed a successful program to train and support Aboriginal people in Ontario for jobs in the energy sector. Stonecircle prepared a final report for the project.

The Employment in Energy project was a four month training to employment program, developed by MNO and Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. It was one of many projects funded through the former federal Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund (ASTSIF).

The program provided training and work placement to more than 30 participants from across Ontario.

Stonecircle gathered data and statistics on the energy sector in Ontario as well as Aboriginal employment in the province and produced a 25-page report on the Employment in Energy program.

Revitalizing Indigenous Languages I: Vanishing Tongues

Greg Smith is a Consilium consultant who has worked on various language revitalization projects around the world. Over the next couple of weeks he'll be describing the different approaches taken in Hawai'i and New Zealand to bring indigenous language back into day-to-day life. 

Languages in Danger: UNESCO

There are more than 50 Aboriginal languages in Canada, all under pressure, and many in serious danger of vanishing. Some have only a handful of elderly native speakers still living, so protection and preservation of indigenous languages is of paramount importance. Language is viewed as a critical element for the transmission of culture, history and values and there is a strong will among Aboriginal people to maintain, enhance and pass on indigenous languages to the next generations.

Many innovative and successful programs have been developed over the past two decades. In Canada these have included immersion programs for young children; the growth of Aboriginal language media (print, radio, television and film including the international success Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner); and legislation recognizing Aboriginal languages as official languages in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

But there are many other stories out there in the world.

Happy Birthday Fred!

Fred Weihs

Many of the staff here at the Consilium Consulting Group take their birthday off in order to enjoy and celebrate their one day a year. Then there's Fred Weihs, who sees his birthday as an opportunity to sneak in some of the work he didn't have time to finish during the weekend before his birthday. Of course, there's always working through NEXT weekend to look forward to.  Ah, well, to each their own.  From all of us at CCG, Happy Birthday Fred! And please, at least take a break and come to lunch with us...

Debt Ceilings and Death Defying Tourism: The Weekly Poll

Last Week's Poll: If You Managed Your Money Like the US Government Manages Theirs...

Last week we looked at the various strategies the US government was considering to resolve their debt ceiling crisis, and speculated about what would happen if we applied some of those strategies to our personal finance. We asked you to tell  what you would do next time you found yourself overdrawn at the bank.

1. Well, NO-ONE intends to adopt the Republican Strategy (explain to your banker that it's all his fault, and insist that all interest rates and service charges be lowered), the Democratic Strategy: (explain to your banker that  you have a right to spend what you're spending, and insist he raise your overdraft ceiling) or the EuroStrategy (pay back your debts by borrowing from your neighbour at an even higher interest rate.)
2. A surprising 18% opted for the Tea Party Strategy (stamp your feet, glare, and just say No.)
3. And a reassuring 82% voted for the Boring old Canadian Strategy: spend a little less, save a little more.

Good choice.

Devo? No, CN Tower Edge Walk

This Week's Poll:New Frontiers In Adventure Tourism

Statistics from the hospitality industry suggest that tourism from the United States has dropped significantly this year, a result of the high Canadian dollar and the volatile American economy.

How do we attract more tourists? It's been noted that the fastest growing tourism sector worldwide is "adventure" tourism, in which travelers seek out various "extreme" experiences. Last week, for example, the CN Tower opened its Edge Walk,  providing insane suicidal adventurous visitors with the opportunity to circumnavigate the Tower, 112 stories up, for a mere $175.

Okay, that's cool. But can we do better? We're inviting the readership to select from among the following options for a new, extreme Canadian thrilling adventure. Which do you think would offer the most raw, stomach churning excitement?

1. The CN Tower Edge Tour: walk around the CN tour for 30 minutes. At ground level, not so thrilling. 112 stories up - hmmm.
   
2. Visit Nunavut with a PETA Luggage Sticker:  we'll fly you to Grise Fiord, with an overnight in Iqaluit, and provide you with special PETA and Greenpeace stickers for your suitcases, bearing messages like "Make Love, Not Nipku", and "Can't You Just Buy a Parka From Mountain Equipment Coop?" One of our most popular holidays, with a survival rate of almost 70%!
   
3. The Montreal Overpass Tour: see Montreal from the open top of a double decker bus - and actually ride, unprotected,  beneath some of the city's oldest overpasses!
4. The RIM Rollercoaster: for all you sedentary adventurers! We buy you 1000 shares in Research in Motion and set you up in a hotel room in Waterloo, Ont. with a Blackberry, a stock ticker, an unlimited supply of coffee, and a blood pressure monitor. (This tour is on special this week, and probably even cheaper next week!)
5. The Halifax Taxi Marathon: we'll reserve a cab in your name for the long airport-to-Halifax taxo drive: and we'll tell the driver you're from Ottawa.

All right, thrill seekers - the Consilium Poll - The Only Poll That Matters - is open! 

News Flash! Aarluk Office Has Moved!

Geoff and the Northwest Tel guy, restoring the Aarluk lifeline: our cool new quarters: Victor, looking settled.

Well, it finally happened. We outgrew out first home.

Aarluk's office has moved to greener pastures on August 1st, 2011. After more than three years in the Natsiq St. office, Aarluk's headquarters is now located at Unit # 2, Green Acres (1814 Qaqqamiut Road) in Iqaluit. That's right at the foot of the hill below Upper Base, just before where the road to Upper Base starts.

Victor Tootoo and Geoff "BigRig" Rigby have been busy setting up the new office, which is becoming cozier by the day. The last critical decision to be made is the selection of that office essential, the official coffee maker. Until then, some Dead Man's Reach has been tiding them over.

NorthwesTel recently finished installing phone and internet services, which came as quite the relief to both Victor and Geoff. To quote BigRig, "I didn't have a land line, cell phone, or internet for a couple of days. It was like being stranded on an island. Although I guess technically I was, huh?"

Aarluk's phone (867 979 2089) and fax (867 979 2091) numbers remain the same, and the new official mailing address is :

P.O. Box 2230
Unit #2 Green Acres
1814 Qaqqamiut Road
Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0

If you're in the neighborhood, don't be shy, stop on by and check out the new Aarluk digs!  And visit our blog at...oh. Right.You're already here. Never mind.

Problem Solving Techniques for Computers

h/t Dr.Ian Brooks, Greg Smith, Graphjam.com.

And From Our Sports Editor...

“People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” 

-Roger Hornsby

Hornsby's immortal words gave always inspired Stonecircle researcher and Brass Monkeyz shortstop Kory “The Ringer” Goulais. During spring and summer, Goulais spends most of his non-researching time on the baseball field (playing for four teams) and barely has time to squeeze in his work (just kidding). The other side of the office tandem is Christian “The Clootch” Cloutier who manages the Brass Monkeyz. His management philosophy was best expressed by the immortal Sparky Anderson, who once said: “Players have two things to do. Play and keep their mouths shut.”

Kory Goulais and Christian Cloutier,
2010 Brass Monkeyz Old School Champions


But we digress.We regret to inform the faithful readers who follow the ups and (ahem) downs of the Brass Monkeyz Old School baseball season on this blog that the BMs got themselves, no doubt for reasons beyond their control, finished  a dismal 6-6, earning a mediocre third in the six team division. Sic transit, etc.

On the plus side, reigning MVP Goulais continues his pace from last year (when he is there, slacker!) The Clootch, like player coach Reggie Dunlop (Slapshot reference for hockey fans), is in charge of both administrative duties (like getting the ball before the game) and playing responsibilities (striking out), an onerous concantenation of care which no doubt affected his season tremendously. Take heart, however:  the Brass Monkeyz will embark on their playoff run, and hopefully Our Times will have more cheerful news to report upon completion of the season. Avid fans may remember that the Brass Monkeyz are the defending champions. Will they be able to repeat last year’s success? Stay tuned!

What Helen Did On Her Summer Vacation: Part IV

We checked in earlier this week to get the scoop from Helen Klengenberg, who is spending the summer on the land revisiting some of the camps and lakes she remembers from her childhood. Faithful readers will recall that Helen's adventures so far have included her very first polar bear and a successful search and rescue mission.

So of course we were looking forward to the update. She had been scheduled to head back to Kugluktuk earlier in the month, then out to Yellowknife to meet with granddaughter Kimnek Rose and long lost husband Paul for the weekend - but ice breakup prevented the rendezvous.

We finally caught up with her by satphone. The conversation was a bit difficult because Helen was dealing with both a fading battery and a shattered tooth (missed just ONE piece of buckshot when cleaning a goose - not a wonderful experience when you're 900 kilometers from the nearest dentist). There was, however, better news than that: just the night before, Helen had shot her first beluga. Three of them, in fact - they unwisely chose to visit the bay she was camping beside, and there she was with a boat and a rifle, and ....

"I've been up all night. It took about ten hours to cut them up and cache them", she reports. "And we're going to have to get some help to get all the meat back to town.  But it was great. One more tick on the bucket list. Now I'm going to sleep."

A couple of days later help arrived from Kugluktuk. It took 7 boats to carry all the meat back to Kugluktuk for distribution amongst family and other residents. And Helen finally connected with granddaughter Kimmy. They've left for the camp in Maligut east of Kugluktuk. Paul Murphy reports that they're now  headed out to scout out some caribou, hoping that Kimmy (11 yrs old) will get her first one.

Kinda makes that weekend at the cottage seem a little...tame, doesn't it?

William Commanda 1913-2011

We join his family, the Algonquin Nation and all of those who knew him, in expressing our sympathy at the passing of an incredible Elder.

William Commanda was 98 years old.  His life was rich in accomplishment.  He created Circle of All Nations,  a group Grandfather Commanda called "a circle of individuals committed to respect of Mother Earth, promotion of racial harmony, advancement of social justice, recognition and honouring of indigenous widsom and peace building." Through this Circle, Grandfather Commanda organized and held many gatherings and workshops. Most recently,he had been engaged in discussions about the creation of Asinabka, a national indigenous centre on Victoria island in Ottawa, to be designed by renowned architect Douglas Cardinal.

Over the course of his life Grandfather Commanda garnered many awards and much recognition, including the Order of Canada; perhaps more important, he was the keeper of three significant wampum belts. But his greatest gifts were his wisdom, his extensive knowledge of Algonquin history and culture, and the generosity of spirit that so inspired all of us who were honoured to have known him. 

He will long be remembered and forever be missed .

Into the Woods: Engaging Aboriginal People in Forestry

Forestry is an important sector in Canada's Aboriginal economy, as a source of both industry and jobs. Stonecircle has been working for the past year with the Forest Products Sector Council on a number of projects relating to Aboriginal people in forestry.

It began with an analysis by Christian Cloutier, who combed the most current data available in the sector to develop a picture Aboriginal engagement in forestry. For the most, Aboriginal people are engaged in logging and support activities, and within those occupations, they are most likely to be labourers or silviculture and forestry workers.

We then researched and presented a list of more than 60 promising practices of Aboriginal forestry initiatives. Examples include

• youth initiatives like Envirothon, where First Nation students compete on knowledge of forestry and wildlife and win prizes
• companies like Coast Tsimsian Resources, a major economic driver in the region with rights and ability to harvest and sell wood, 
• a promising First Nations initiative at the University of British Columbia to train forest professionals.

Our research, plus the the findings from regional engagement sessions and a national symposium, resulted in a strategic document that the Forest Products Sector Council will use to frame its future plans and strategies. The draft strategy report is currently being reviewed by a FPSC working group; Stonecircle will finalize the report in the fall.

Golfing For A Good Cause

Jeff Yourchuk, Marnie Yourchuk, Gary Wheatley, Jennifer (Tiger) David

Here's a quick quiz. See if you can match the CCG consultant with their favourite summer activity.

a) Ron Ryan	1) Golf
b) Jennifer David	2) Golf
c) Chuck Gilhuly	3) Golf
d) Kory Goulais	4) Golf
e) Chris Grosset	5) Golf

Please emails your anwers to the editor. First correct response wins our ironic appreciation.

Shown above: Jennifer David promoting Stonecircle and enjoying herself with her new-found teammates.

She was golfing in the Mamaweswen Charity Golf Tournament in Garden River on July 20th, a fund-raising event sponsored by the North Shore Tribal Council to raise money for Aboriginal literacy and other good causes.  Her team managed a final score of +1. That's not bad, but not great, considering the winning team had -10 (this likely means something to those of you who golf...)

Meteorology and Money - The Weekly Poll

Last Week's Poll: Everybody Talks About the Weather

We invited our readership to hold the Government accountable for our extremely hot, humid summer, and provide direction to the Minister of the Environment as to the kind of weather we, as Canadians, want and deserve.

And you, the readers, spake thus:

• 5% wanted ongoing hot and humid;
• 15% demand just as hot, but less humid;
• Nobody asked for just as humid, and less hot;
• 31% vote for less hot AND less humid;

 And a majority of  47% said: "Whatever, as long as CBC shuts up about it."

This Week's Poll: If You Managed Your Money Like the US Government Manages Theirs...

We are all grateful that the world's economy failed to collapse this week when Republicans and Democrats agreed at the last minute to a compromise, enabling the US to raise its debt ceiling.

Since we all know that politicians are our moral and intellectual superiors, we feel there must be a lesson in there for ordinary folks like us struggling to meet our own debtload.

So next time you find yourself overdrawn at the bank, what strategy do you intend to adopt?

1. Republican Strategy: Explain to your bank manager that it's all his fault, and insist that all interest rates and service charges be lowered.
2. Democratic Strategy: Explain to your banker that  you have a right to spend what you're spending, and insist he raise your overdraft ceiling.
3. Tea Party Strategy: Stamp your feet, glare, and just say No. 
4. EuroStrategy: Borrow from your neighbour at an even higher interest rate.
5. Boring old Canadian Strategy: spend a little less, save a little more.

The Consilium Poll - The Only Poll That Matters - is open!